I recently went back from an end-of-semester drama presentation at an area elementary school. In the event that you run a drama program, you're familiar with this opportunity for parents in the future and see what their kids have been working on.
Parents are excited to see their kids, students are excited to possess their parents see them, and the drama teacher is nervous making certain things run smoothly and everyone walks away happy and appreciative.imlie Today Episode
Having led hundreds of those myself, I began considering what I'm are some helpful tips that will make your drama presentation as successful as you are able to:
1. Be Organized
This might sound like common sense, but it's so important so it needs mentioning. Parents don't wish to visit a fumbling teacher, and kids will get antsy should they don't have specific direction. Ensure you have thought through and written out the exact order of events, and how much time you expect each event to take. Within each event ensure you've written who will be participating, the order of participation, etc. If you're playing drama games, plan ahead of time who you'll call up for every single one, and let them know in advance. If you're feeling more adventurous, put every student's name in a hat, and show the audience you will be choosing students' at random from the hat for the different games until all the names are called.imlie Today Episode
2. Keep it short
Keep your welcome greeting under a minute. Cover how excited you are to share what you've been taking care of, the goal that the class has been working toward, what they're about to see, and a brief personal tidbit concerning the program. Allow activities, games and scenes speak for themselves as much as possible. Keep the experience descriptions to a word or two, or better yet if you have older kids ask them to introduce each game (let them know ahead of time so they can practice).
3. Keep it positive.
Don't ever apologize for things not being as polished as they could be because of insufficient time or resources. Instead mention how impressed you are using what the children accomplished such little time. Once you learn a specific activity or scene will probably be considered a little rough, introduce it just as you'd any other. Then jump in and give the children support as they want it.
4. Make certain the children know things to expect.
I suggest having a complete dry run-through of the "sharing day" each one session beforehand, or prior to the parents arrive. The children should know the order of events and when it's their turn to participate. Consider printing a couple of copies of the "itinerary" and posting them stage right and left where the actors could see them however the audience can't.
5. Have clean transitions.
The moments following a high-energy activity are the most crucial moments to keep control of the environment. Simply telling the kids as their laughing and talking "please go back to your seats" does NOT cut it. Instantly regain their focus, then let them have specific timed instructions. "Everyone have a breathe in, breathe out, silently head back again to your seats in 3 counts. 3... 2... 1. I'd now want to introduce... "
6. Harness the silly/Harness the talking
Along exactly the same lines, ensure the children know it is not OK to talk during a casino game or activity unless specifically instructed to accomplish so. When parents are in the audience it is natural for kids to wish to be little hams, cracking jokes with friends, going for easy laughs. It's the largest challenge of the drama teacher to target this energy into creative character/acting choices. There's more leniency for this when the children are extremely young (K-2nd grade). However as students grow during your program their acting should noticeably mature. These sharing presentation are a great way to demonstrate that to the parents.
7. Make certain every kid has something special to do.
If you're doing scenes, and kids have individual lines, the very first thing a parent can do after hearing a couple of kids speak is anxiously watch for his/her kid to speak. It's completely acceptable to give the older, more complex kids bigger roles in the presentation, but ensure every child has at least one moment to stay the spotlight.
8. Finish with a bang.
End the presentation with a casino game, activity or song that you know could have everyone leaving with a huge smile on their face. Although you might be in an informal environment, choreograph a clear simple bow by the ensemble at the end.
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